Chelsea are in talks to sign Ross Barkley from Everton.

The England midfielder, who has not featured for Everton this season despite recently returning to first-team training following hamstring surgery, has less than six months remaining on his contract.

Barkley came close to joining Chelsea in the summer transfer window after the clubs agreed a £35m fee, but ultimately opted against the move to Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham were also interested in signing Barkley last summer, but Sky Sports News understands they will not reignite their interest in the 24-year-old with Mauricio Pochettino focusing on other targets.

Everton manager Sam Allardyce admitted on Thursday that he was expecting to receive bids for Barkley before the close of the January window.

“I would expect there would be sometime in this window if there is going to be any interest from some of the big boys,” he said.

Barkley, an Everton academy graduate, has scored 27 goals in 179 appearances since making his debut for the club in August 2011.